I’m covering films 60-51 in this article. This collection of movies delivers spy action, a couple aliens, a master thief, an airplane, a 70s legend, and Meryl Streep, yes Meryl Streep does action in this episode. So, let’s dive into it.
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The Saint (1997)
My #60 pick centers on the world’s most skilled thief. He’s cunning, devious, and treacherous. You never reveal your name. Never turn your back and never surrender your heart to The Saint from 1997 starring Val Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue from director Phillip Noyce.
To me The Saint is a film that thrives on the atmosphere of the international settings and how it explores a master thief skilled in the art of disguises. The plot is plenty interesting. It does have its holes and the pacing can be iffy in places, but it’s a great ride of action. Layered with elements of espionage, while also being an interesting heist film, with an undercurrent of love carried effectively by Shue and Kilmer. Admittedly, Kilmer has more than a few of his cheesy scenes but he carries it, and his charm makes the role work. Shue’s a bit overly meek for the needs of the narrative. I think she could’ve been a bit stronger, and the story could’ve still worked but it’s far from a dealbreaker and in the end, the creative action sequences this movie provides makes The Saint hold up as one of the decade’s best.
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The River Wild (1994)
Moving along to #59 is another action thriller that I think is a bit forgotten. It’s set in the countryside, but vacation is over in 1994’s The River Wild starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon from director Curtis Hanson.
This is one of those movies that can come in and catch you by surprise. It has its plot conveniences and spots of predictability but it’s nothing that gets in the way of this thrilling ride of suspense capturing your imagination. You have Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon driving this film so it’s extremely well-acted. Bacon leans into the psychopath role so effortlessly and it’s great for the needs of this quick-moving real-time thriller. Streep has to survive the river and the bad guys to save her family and it’s surprisingly compelling and easily engaging. Sure, it has its familiar subplots but they’re done well to frame the action and with the on-location shoots out in the wilderness on the raging river the immersion level of The River Wild is one of its bright spots. But really this movie comes down to the cat-and-mouse game between Streep and Bacon and with their charged performances you’ll be anticipating each move.
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Broken Arrow (1996)
Prepare to go ballistic for my #58 movie. A big flashy, stylish, action flick from later in the decade directed by John Woo starring John Travolta and Christian Slater and the film would of course be 1996’s Broken Arrow. John Travolta is next-level in this performance and hamming up every scene like a true villain should.
There were few things better in the late 90s than the eccentric direction of John Woo and the equally flamboyant acting from John Travolta. Broken Arrow slaps them together for a military themed action romp and the result is a pure-adrenaline ride of masculinity, one-liners, and waves of elegant action. Christian Slater is thrown into the mix, and his performance is Slater-being-Slater, but it works, and he and Travolta do make the most of this tried-and-true friends turned enemies’ trope with a nuclear twist. Sure, Broken Arrow is cheesy in many spots and it’s melodramatic enough for 10 movies. But that’s part of the fun. This movie relies on action, and it’s well staged from fight scenes to a variety of chase sequences, shootouts, and many other action set pieces. This movie is nonstop and with a reliance on practical stunt work and effects with a touch of digital effects on the side, Broken Arrow is a great time.
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In the Line of Fire (1993)
My #57 pick is a political thriller about an assassin on the loose. A president in danger and one old Secret Service agent that will stand between them, and that man is Clint Eastwood in Wolfgang Peterson’s In the Line of Fire from 1993 also starring Rene Russo and John Malkovich.
The deadly game of cat-and-mouse is what makes In the Line of Fire a riveting ride of suspense and close calls. Eastwood’s solid as the aging Secret Service agent and his bristly demeanor is perfect for the role. His romantic subplot with Rene Russo is laughable nostalgia from the 90s, but really the true star of this film, outside of the script, is the sadistic performance from John Malkovich. We’ve seen this role before but in the hands of Malkovich it’s completely unique and he holds his own next to Eastwood in terms of screen presence. This is one of those movies you can naturally assume the ending of but watching it get there, with this methodical pace, and through Peterson’s direction, can capture your attention and keep you locked in until the end credits roll.
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Lionheart (1990)
We’re going back to the action genre basics for my #56 movie. When the streets are a jungle, there can only be one king and that man would be Jean-Claude Van Damme in Lionheart from 1990 directed by Sheldon Lettich.
Jean-Claude Van Damme would go from martial-arts movies, to fighting cyborgs, to fighting for family in Lionheart and this movie holds up as one of the early films in Van Damme’s resume where he showcased some of his dramatic acting. This street fighting movie is the perfect vehicle for Van Damme to deliver his trademark action and there’s plenty of it. From fighting under overpasses, to garages, to pools, to the lavish backyards of the wealthy who love seeing man fight man, and it’s a blast of 80s nostalgia and Van Damme kicks. Lettich’s direction is capable, and it results in a high adrenaline action movie with a strong undercurrent of heart to make it all mean something. Lionheart keeps a strong forward pace, it’s filled with cheesy bravado, and it delivers a tried-and-true finale filled with melodrama and a one-of-a-kind villain that leaves you with a smile on your face.
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Three Kings (1999)
Moving along to #55 is a military themed action film with a twist of comedy and drama from David O. Russell. In a war without heroes, they were kings, Three Kings from 1999 starring Ice Cube, George Clooney, and Mark Wahlberg.
Right out of the gate Three Kings has many things working in its favor. It’s well written, and the story is smart with a humanity to it. It’s well cast, and the performances are excellent, led by Cube, Clooney, and Wahlberg. And the premise is a unique spin on the traditional war movie. Three Kings is a Desert Storm heist film with strong impressions of humor and a heartfelt core that makes it all mean something, all worth something. So, this movie can easily pull you in on this mission to steal some gold. Then you get the direction from Russell that brings things up many notches. His film techniques here give Three Kings a lasting visual appeal and with his use of handheld and Steadicam techniques you can feel the tension of many dramatic situations and get pulled up in your seat when the bullets are flying during the action.
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The Jackal (1997)
My #54 movie has a great cast and it’s set inside the world of an assassin. An assassin who can’t be stopped because he has no identity outside of being known as, The Jackal from 1997 starring Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, and Sydney Poitier, from director Michael Caton-Jones.
Assuming you can overlook the ridiculous accent from Richard Gere, The Jackal is a methodical assassin flick that has an equal element of elegance and grittiness as it explores the underground methods of a contract killer. Bruce Willis is the smoothest hitman in cinematic history with this performance as he captures an unassumingly sadistic killer with a charm, and a controlled rage you can’t wait to see explode. Gere’s okay, he’s a talented actor and he does a fine job outside the terrible accent. And Sydney Poitier comes in and serves as the true #2 of this movie with a grounded and likable performance. The Jackal may not have a ton of action but when it hits it’s violent, it’s unrelenting, and perfect for the mood of this sleek little movie. This story feels lived in, it’s an easy escape, and when the climax hits it’s a plenty satisfying closing to a great film that manages to do something unique in this subgenre.
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Men in Black (1997)
We’re getting a lot more light hearted with the #53 film. An iconic film starring two finely dressed men who protect the earth from the scum of the universe. The two men are Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, and the movie is of course 1997’s Men in Black directed by Barry Sonnenfeld.
Certainly not a straight forward action movie you still have to put Men in Black on the list. It’s filled with alien fighting action and a ton of humor from the pairing of Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith. This movie is creatively ambitious, and its visual appeal still holds up over many of its sequels. But really what makes this movie fun is the worldbuilding that you can easily escape into. Men in Black delivers a lighthearted adventure filled with cosmic action and it’s a blast of adventure and humor with Jones and Smith serving up a lights out duo for the needs of this plot. They take the young-paired-with-old movie trope and do their own thing with it. The direction from Sonnefeld is effective and from the smaller scale action to the larger set-pieces this movie rarely has a dull moment.
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Passenger 57 (1992)
Up next at #52 is a nostalgic favorite of mine from 1992. It stars Wesley Snipes as an Air Marshal with a big mouth, and a bad attitude, and for the terrorists on Flight 163, he’s very bad news. Because Wesley Snipes is Passenger 57 directed by Kevin Hooks.
This is an undeniable Die Hard rip-off on a plane but it’s also a reminder of how well the formula works. Snipes is confident, smooth, and charming. All you want in one half of an action lead. On the other side he delivers all the needed physicality and tough guy swagger you need for a full-throttle action flick and that’s what Passenger 57 delivers. It doesn’t waste too much time with unneeded sublots or filler. It sticks to the mission, keeps its foot on the gas, and flows nicely from one harrowing situation to the other. All carried effortlessly by Snipes. From shootouts, to chase sequences, and a variety of fight scenes, down to the textbook one-on-one final showdown, this movie is non-stop action. And with Bruce Payne soaking up every scene as the villain Passenger 57 gives you all you could want from an early 90s actioner with an 80s vibe.
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Predator 2 (1990)
Coming up next at #51 is an underrated sequel from 1990. It’s about the ultimate hunter. It’s silent, invisible, invincible, and this time it’s in Los Angeles in Predator 2 starring Danny Glover, and Gary Busey, from director Stephen Hopkins.
Now this movie never had a chance. It’s a sequel to one of the best action movies of all-time and instead of Arnold Schwarzenegger this one had Danny Glover. But I contend that if Predator didn’t exist then Predator 2 would be much more appreciated. This movie creates an atmosphere, it’s gritty, a little sleazy in just the right places, it’s ultra-violent, and still a kick-ass ride all these years later. Glover is no Schwarzenegger but he’s still a strong commanding lead for this movie and how the story maneuvers itself allows Glover to go toe-to-toe with the Predator in believable fashion. The supporting cast with names like Gary Busey, Maria Conchita Alonzo, Bill Paxton, Reuben Blades and others elevate their characters and it’s filled with tons of visually appealing practical action. Predator 2 isn’t at the level of the first but it’s a damn fine sequel and a great action flick.
Anthony J. Digioia II © 2024 SilverScreen Analysis & Movies Never Say Die!